Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday observed that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has no right to cancel anyone’s Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).

The CJ while hearing a case on the application of a citizen Abdul Raheem remarked that how many times the court has to ask Nadra to stop these illegal moves. “Tell us any legal provision according to which the Nadra is cancelling citizens’ CNICs and who gave the authority to Nadra to decide who is Pakistani and who is not?”

IHC Chief Justice reserved the verdict which will be announced later.

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Deputy Attorney General Tayyab Shah told the court Abdul Raheem’s Afghanistan affiliation led to the cancellation of his CNIC.

It is pertinent to mention that last year, NADRA had cancelled CNIC of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) senior leader and ex-senator Hafiz Hamdullah after it was established that he is a confirmed “alien".

According to NADRA officials, the authority cancelled the CNIC of former senator and digitally impounded the CNIC issued to him.